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A Cl\ristmas Carol in Five Staves. 



DRAMA'riZED FRo:\r 



Charles Dickens' Celebrated Christmas Story, 



By CHARLES A. SCOTT. 



NEWARK, N. J. : 

NEW JERSEY SOLDIERS' HOME PRINT. 
1877. 



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A Cl\ristmas Carol in Five Staves. 



DRAMATIZED FROM 



Charles Dickens' Celebrated Christmas Story, 



By CHARLES AL SCOTT. 



-♦-♦-^ 



NEWARK, N. J. 

LDIERS 

isn. 




NEW JERSEY soldiers' HOME PRINT. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the j-ear 1877, () 

(;) By ChaPvLes A. Scott, () 

K in tlie office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. ^3 

^) All Rights Reserved. 

Q 

T?ds edition is limited, a7id is printed for the convenience of re- '!> 

^! hearsal, to enable the owner to make such alterations ^') 

(k as may seem judicious. ^ ) 

jiO o J rt>. 



CHABACTEIiS. 



Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserlj' broker 

Frederick Merr}', u uephew to Scrocge. . . 

i3c b Crater it, clerk to Scrooge 

Ghost oj Jacob Marify, dead seveu years 

Spirit of Christmas I'ast 

SjJirii oi Chi-istmas Present 

i\ir. Ihou as Topper 

Mr. Henry Sn .pper 

Mr Bamef '""^ | Philanthropic citizei s. . . . 

Ptter Cratchit.. . . . 

Little Cratchit 

Tiny Tim 

Scrooge's lormer self 

Mr. Stev. ns 
Mr. Jones 
ilr. Fatehin 
Mr. Snn liter 
Mr. Eedface 

Mr. Kemper 

Mr. Fezziwig. Scrooges lormer master 

Mr. James Badger 

Dick Wilkii_s, Fezziwig's apprentice. 

Old Joe, a pawnbrokt r 

Mr. Shroud, an uud rtaker 

Old Brldhead, the tiddler 

The Lamp Lighter 

First M,.n 

Second Man 

Iguoranct 

The bey with the turke}^ 



Scrooge's business friends. 



Thomas, a servant 

Mrs. Belle Ken per, Scrooge's first and last love . 

Mrs. Fredeiick Merry j 

Miss Julia Kemper her daughters 

Miss Sarah Kemper j 

Mrs. Ci at chit, a devoted wile 

Belinda Cratchit , ~ ■, , 

her c augnters 



her daughters,. 



Martha Cratchit 
Mrs. Caroline Badger 

Mrs. Mar gle, a laundress 

Mrs. Dilber, a char- woman 

Mrs. Fezziwig, a worthy n ation 
Clara Fezziwig 
Emma Fezziwig 
Little Fanny Scrooge 

Want 

Six or eight children for tableaux. 

y^^ By a distribution of two or tiiree characters to ore person, the 
peice can be periormed by fifteen males and nine females. 



COSTUMES. 



Scrooi/e. First di'css : Brown Quaker- cut coat Avaist- 
co t and pants. Dark overcoat. Low-ciowned, 
broad-brimmed hat. BLick silk stock and standing- 
C'.)llar. Eald wig with tufts of white hair on each 
side. Smooth face. Second dress : Dressing 
gown, cotton night-cap and slippers. 

F'red. Merry. First dress : Walking suit, overcoat, 
black silk hat. Black silk stock and standing colhir. 
Side whiskers. Second,. dress : Dress suit 

J^ob Cratchit. Long-tailed business coat of common ma- 
terial, much worn, and buttoned up to the neck. 
Woolen pants and waistcoat of check pattern. Col- 
ored scarf and standing collar. Large white com- 
forter. Narrow-rimmed silk hat, old style and the 
worse for wear. Smooth face. 

Ghost of Marley. Drab cut-away coat and breeches. 
Low-cut single-breasted vest. RufQed shirt. White 
neckcloth. Drab leggings. Gray, long-haired wig. 
with queue. Shaggy eyebrows. 

Spirit of Christinas JRast. White tunic trimmed witli 
flowers. Fleshings. Jeweled belt around waist. 
Long white hair hanging loose down neck and back. 
Jeweled star for forehead. White conical hat, very 
high, carried under the arm. Smooth, pale face — no 
wrinkles. Wand of holly. 

Spirit of Christinas Present. Green robe bordered with 
white fur. P'leshings. Trunks. Brown hose. Dark- 
brown curls.^ IloUy wreath for the head. 

Mum ford. Overcoat. Under suit of the period — 1840. 
Black silk hat. White neckcloth and standing collar. 
Gray, long-haired wig. Smooth face. Spectacles. 

Barnes. Blue cloth over and under coats. Black silk 
hat. Black silk stock and standing collar. Iron- 
gray sliort-hiired wig. Mutton - chop whiskers. 
Walking stick. 



CaSTJT,IES. V 

T-)pper and Snapper. Dress suits of the period — 1840. 

Peter Cratchit. Jacket or short coat. Very hirge stand- 
ing' collar and neckerchief. 

Little Cratchit. Calico shirt. Short trousers. Shoes 
and stockings. Apron. 

Tlnj Thii. Same as Little Cratchit, with the addition of 
a jacket. 

Scrooges former self. First dress ; Cutaway coat. Knee 
breeches. Second d'-ess : Cape coat. Hessians. 

Ignorance and Want. Clad in rags Fleshings. 

Old Joe. Gabardine or long-skirted coat. Shaggy wig 
and beard. Old smoking cap. 

Mrs. Cratchit. Plain black or brow^n dress. Cap and 
apron. 

3£rs. Merry, KeinpQ,r and Misses Kemper. Handsome 
house dresses *of the period. 

Misses Fezzkolg. Low-necked dresses with short sleeves. 

Mrs. Badger. Plain walking dress. Bounet and shawl 



B 



SCEJfEB Y, 
FUBMITURE and PROPERTIES. 



ACX I. 

SCENE I.— Scrooge & Marley's Counting House, 1st g. 
backed by an interior 2d g. Set fire-place — painted 
grate fire l. Window in flat l. c. Double doors in 
flat, thrown open, r. c. Scrooge's desk and chair 
near window — ruler, pens, ink and paper on desk. 
Bob Cratchit's Desk in inner room in sight of au- 
dience. Lighted candles on both desks. Scuttle of 
coal near fire place. Clothes hooks on flat for 
Scrooge's hat and great coat. Coal shovel for Bob 
to enter with. Subscription list for Mumford to 
enter with. P^^' Clear stage of desk, chair and scuttle. 

SCENE II. Scrooge's apartments 3d or 4tli g. Door 
L. c. and window e c. in flat, backed by a street 
scene. Small grate fire and mantel l. 2. Old-f shioned 
clock and two plaster casts on mantel. Door r. 2. 
Table l. c. Lighted candle, spoon, basin and writing 
materials on table. Saucepan of gruel on hob. Two 
easy chairs near fire place. Lights down. Fender at 
fire. Ringing bells of place. Scrooge's hat and 
coat hung on the wall. Chain made of cash boxes, 
keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, purses, etc., for ghost 
to enter with. Toothpick for Scrooge to show. Trap 
ready for ghost to disappear. 

ACT 11. 

SCENE I. — Scrooge's bed room 1st g.* Chimney c, with 
painted coal tire. Door l. c , window r. c. Trap 
near hearth for Spirit of Christmas past to enter. 
Small four-post bedstead with cm-tains l. Bureau 
or waslistand r. 



o 



SCENERY, FUR^"ITUEE, PEOPEELTES. VII 

SCENE II. — An old schocl room 31 g. Door l. c, and 

•window R. c. in fl.it Chair at window. A stuffed 

p::rrot on stand near e. 3. Two or three school 

desks, a platform and desk for the master ; books for 

3^_.nng Scrooge. 

SCENE III.— A wareroom, full depth of stage. An ele- 
Tabed platform, centre of flit, for the fiddler. Old- 
fashioned arm chair at l. 2, for Mrs Fezziwig. 

SCENE lY. — Plain room, 2d g. No properties. 

SCENE Y. — Drawing room, 5th g., trimmed with ever- 
greens. A Christmas tree, trimmed and lighted, n.u.E. 
Ornaments on mantel. Fireplace l. Suit of parlor 
furniture. Centre table c. Toys for children — doll 
and doll's dress for Belle. Trap ready for spirit to 
disappear. 

ACT ISI. 

SCENE I — A room in Scrooge's house, 1st g. Flat 
painted to show game, poultry, meats, etc. Torch, 
shaped like a cornucopia for Spirit of Christmas 
Present. 

SCENE II. — Bob Cratchit's home — Plain room 4th g. 
Dcor E. and l. c, backed by kitchen flit. Dresser 
and crockery c. of flat. Fireplace l. u. e. Saucepan 
of potatoes on fire; six wooden or cane-seat chairs ; 
a high chair for Tiny Tim. Large table c. ; white 
table-cloth ; large bowl on side table r. ; three tum- 
blers and a custard cup without a handle. Nuts, 
apples and oranges on dressar. Small crutch for 
Tiny Tim to enter with. Goose on dish for Peter to 
enter with. 

SCENE III. — A street mansion with lighted windows 
showing shadow of a groujD inside, ist g.. Snow. 
Torch and ladder for lamp lighter. 

SCENE lY. — Drawing room 4th g. Ai'ch 3d g. Hand- 
some suite of furniture. Large table r. Sideboard 
with wine and glasses at flat c. Piano l. 2d e. 
Coffee-urn and cups on small table, r. 3d e. Piano- 
stool, music stand. Sheet music on piano. Salver 
for waiter. 



VIII 



SCENEPiY, FUrtNITUKE, PPtOPERTIES. 



AC'S IV. 



-Scrooge's bed room 2d g. as in scene 1, 
—Street -1st g. Snuff-box for Snuffer to enter 



SCENE I.- 
act 2. 

SCENE II 
with. 

SCENE III. — Pawn shop 3d g. Doors r. and l. c. in flat- 
Table d, four common chairs ; a smoky oil h.mp — 
lighted, and a piece of white chalk on table. Bundle 
of bed curtains — same as on Scrooge's bedstead — 
blankets and shirts for Mrs. Mangle to enter Avith. 
Bundle of under-clothing, towels, sheets, sugar-tongs, 
tea-sjDOons and old boots for Mrs. Dilber to enter 
with. A package containing a seal, pencil-case, pair 
of sleeye-buttons and scarf pin, for Shroud to enter 
with. Purse of coins fcr Old Jce. 

SCENE lY. — Street — exterior of Scrooge and Marley's 
1st G. Windew^ l. c. No properties. 

SCENE V. — Bob Cratchet's honiv-^ — same as scene 2, act, 
3. Table c., candles end work-basket on table. Book 
for Peter on tible ; calico or muslin for Mrs. Cratchit 
a,nd Belinda to sew. 



ACT V. 

SCENE I. — Scrooge's apartment, as in scene 2el act 1st. 
No additional properties. 

SCENE II. — Street — exterior of Scrooge's house 1st g. 
Brass knocker on the eloor. Turkey for boy to enter 
with. 

SCENE III. — Drawing room srme as scene 4, act 3. 
Handkerchief for Ered to blinelfold. 



OLD SCROOGE. 



STAYE ONE. 



SCENE I. — Christmas Eve. Counting hmise of Scrooge 
S Marley. Set fireplace with small grate fire l. 
Centre door in fi^at, throvni open^ sho'iring a small 
inner chamber and desk, at which JBoh Cratchit is 
discovered seated, endeavoring to warm his hands 
over the candle. Small desk., l.c, at ichlch Scrooge 
is discovered busy at figures. 

Enter Bob Cratchit, from inner roorn, vnth coal shovel, 
going toward fireplace. 

Scrooge. And six makes twenty-eight poiuids, four 
sliill What do you want in here ? 

Bob. My fire is nearly out, sir, and I thought I would 
take one or two lumps of coal, and — 

Scro. You think more of your personal comforts than 
you do of yoiu" business and my interest. 

Bob. The room, sir, is very cold, and I — 

Scro. Work sir, work ! and I'll warrant that you'll 
keep warm. If you persist in this wanton waste of coals, 
you and I will have to part. {Bob retires to his desk, 
puts on his w>hite comforter, and again tries to warm his 
hands. Scrooge resuming). Four shillings and nine- 
pence — 

Enter Fred'' k Merry, c, d., saluting Bob as he passes him. 

Fred. A Merry Christmas, uncle. God save you. 
Scro. Bah ; humbug. 





10 OLD SCROCGE. [aCT 1. 

Fred. Christmas a Iminbug*, uncle ! You don't iiieaii 
that, I'm sure ? 

aScto. I do. Merry Christmas ! A\^hat right ha\e y(>u 
to be merry ? What reason have you to be merry ? You're 
poor enough. 

Fred. Come then. AVhat right have you to be dismal ? 
What reason have you to be morose '/ You're rich 
enough. 

Scro. Bah; humbug. 

Fred. Don't be cross, uncle. 

^cro. What else can I be when I live in such a worLl 
of fools as this ? Merry C\iristmas ! Out upon Merry 
Christmas ! What's Christmas-time to you but a time for 
paying bills without money; a time for iinding yourself a 
year older, but not an hour richer ; a time for balancing 
your books and having every item in 'em through a round 
dozen of months presented dead against you? Li I cculd 
work my will, every idiot who goes about with '• Merry 
Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own 
pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his 
neart. He should, 

Fred. Uncle ! 

IScro. {sternly). Nephew, keep Christmas in your own 
w^ay, and let me keep it in mine. 

Fred. Keep it ! But you don't keep it. 

Scro. Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may 
it do you. Much good it has ever done you. 

Fred. There are many things from which I might 
have derived good, by wliich I have not profited, I dare 
say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have 
ahvays thought of Christmas-time, when it came round — 
apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and 
origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that 
— as a good time ; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant 
time ; i\vd only time I know of, in the long calender of the 
year, when men and woman seem by one consent to oj^en 
their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below 
them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the 
grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other 
journeys. And, therefore, uncle, though it has never 2:)ut 
a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it 
has done me good, and (rill do me good ; and I say, God 
bless it. {Cratehit applauds, hut observing Scrooge, 
endeavors to he intent on something else.) 



fcCEXE I.] OLD SCEOOGE. 11 

Scro. (to J)ob). Let me lier.r another sound from yoic, 
andyon'll keep your Christmas by Icsing your situation! 
{^lo I'V^d). You're quite a powerful speaker, sir, I won- 
der you don't go into Pi.rliament. 

F'red. Don't be angry, uncle. Come, dine with us to- 
n_'):'i'cw y 

IScro. I'd see you in blr.zes first. 

Fred. But why? Why J 

(Scro. Why did you get man*ied ? 

Fred. Because I fell in love. 

Scro. Because you fell in love ! The only one thin g 
in the world more ridiculous than a merry Chriittmas. 
Good afternoon. 

Fred. Na}^ uncle, but you never came to see me be- 
fore that happened. WLy give it as a rers-^n for not 
coming now 'i 

Scro. Good afternoon. 

Fred. I want no!:hirg irrm you; I ask nothing of 
you ; why cannot w^e be inends ? 

Hero. Good afternoon ! 

Fred. I am sorry, with all my heart, to find jmu so 
resolute. AVe have never had any quarrel, to wliich I 
have been a party. But I have made the trial in homr;g3 
to Cliristmas, and I'll keep my Cnristmas humor to tne 
last. So a Merry Chi-istmas, uncle. 

Scro Good afternoon ! 

{As Fred goes out he exchanges greetings irlth JBoh.) 

Fred. A merry Christmas. 

J3ob. The same to you, and many of them. 

Scro. There's another fellow, my clerk, with fifteen 
shillings a week, and a wife and family, talking about a 
Merry Christmas. I'll retire to the lunatic asylum. 

Enter Mr. Mumford and Mr. J3arnes iHth subscription 
book and paper^ ushered in by Bob. 

3Ir. 3Iuniford. Scrooge & Marley's, I believe {^referr- 
ing to paper). Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. 
Scrooge, or Mr. Marley? 

Scro. Mr Marley has been dead these seven years. 
He died seven years ago this very night. 

Mr. M. We have no doubt his liberality is well rep- 
resented by his surviving partner. [Presents list. 



12 OLD SCROOGE. [aCT I. 

Scrooge frowns, shakes his head, and returns it.) At 
t lis I'estive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more 
than usnally desirable that we should make some slight 
proyision for the poor and destitute, who suffer g-i-eatly 
at the ■oreseiit time. Many thousands are in want of 
common necessaries ; hundreds of thousands are in want 
of ( ommon c 3mforts, sir. 

tScro. Are tliera no prisons ? 

3Ir. M. Plenty of prison^. 

AV/'o. And the union work-houses — are they still in 
operation ? 

J/r. M. They are. I Avish I could say they were not. 

Saro. The tread-mill and the poor law are in full 
vigor, then? 

Mr. 31. Both very bury, sir. 

Sch. Oh ! I was afraid from what you said at first 
that something had occurred to stop them in their useful 
course. I'm very glad to hear it. 

J/"/'. 31. Unier the impressivjn that they scarce' 3^ fair 
nisa Christian cheer of mini or b^dy to the multitude, a 
few of us are enieavorhig to raise a lunil to buy the poor 
s )me meat auvl chink, and means of warmth. We chose 
this time because it is a time, of all otliers, when want is 
keenly felt, and abundance rejoices. What shall I pub 
you down for. 

Scro. Nothing. 

31 r. 31. You wish to be anonym jus % 

Scro. I wish to be left alone. Since you ask me what 
I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make 
merry myself at Christmas, and I cn't afford to make 
idle people meriy. I help to support the establishments 
I have mentioned : they cost enough, and those who are 
badly off must go there. 

3lr. B. Many can't go there; and mary vrould rather 
die. 

Scro. If the}^ had rather die, they had better do it, 
and decrease the surplus population. Besides, excuse 
me, I don't know that. 

31r. B. But you might know it. 

Scro. It's not my business. It's enough for a man to 
understand his own business, and not interfere with other 
people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good after- 
noon, gentlemen. 



SCENE II.] OLD SCROOGE. • 13 

Mr.M. It is useless, we mcy as well withdraw, {Exeunt. 
As thay go out Jiob is seen to hand thein money. \ 

( Yoice at door r. smging. ) 

God bless Yon. merrv pfentlemeii, 
Md.y uothing 3'ou dismaj' — 

Scro. (^Seizes rider and makes a dash at the door.) 
Bcgjne! Ill have none of your carols here. [Makes 
sign to Jjob, tcho extinguishes his candle and 2^uts on his 
hat and enters. ) You'll want all day to morro^y, I su}i- 
pose ? 

Bob. If quite convenient, sir. 

iScro. Its not convenient, and its not fair. If I w^as 
to stop half-a-crown for it you'd think ^''ourgelf ill-used, 
I'll be boiuid? [Bob smiles faintly.) And yet you 
don't think me ill-used when I pay a clay's w^agcs for no 
work. 

Bob. It's only once a year, sir. 

Scro. A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every 
twenty-fiu-li of Deceinber. {Buttoniiig up his great coat 
to the chi^i.) But I suppose you mu5^t have the whole 
day. Be here all the earlier next morning. (Exit c.) 

Bob. I will, sir. You old skinfimt. If I had my 
way, I"d give you Christinas. I'd give it to you this way 
{Dumb show of pummelling Scrooge.) Now for a slide on 
Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in 
honor of Christmas Eve, and then for Camden Town as 
hard as 1 can pelt. {Exit c, with sliding niotio7is, clos- 
ing doors after him. ) 

SCENE II. — Scrooges apartments. Grate fire., l. 2, 

Wi7idoiv, R. c. Boor, l. c. in fiat. Table., l. 4. 

Spoon and basin on tahle. Saucepan on hob. Tvk) 
easy chairs near fire. Bights doron. 

{Scrooge in dressing gown and night-cap , discovered, -"-ith 
candle, searching the room.'] 

Scro. Pooh ! pooh ! Marley's dead seven years to 
night. Impossible. Nobody under the table, nobody 
under the couch, nobody in the closet, nobody nowhere 
{Yawns). Bah, humbug! {Bocks door r. and scats him- 
self in easy chair; dips gruel from saucepan into basin, 
and takes ttoo or three spoonsful. Ya ij7is and composes 
himsel^for rest.) 
D 



14 OLD SCPtOCGE. [act I. 

[^One or tv:o stanzas of a Christm is carol 'may he suruf 
outside, at the close of n Inch a general ring>7ig of bells 
C/iotiCo, succeeded hg a clanking noise oj' c/iai'n.^ 

Enter Jacob 3Ia>ley^s ghost, e., with chain made cf 
cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, purposts, 
etc. Hair twisted uprigtil on each side to represent 
horns. M^hite bandage around javs. 

Scro. It's humbug still! I won't believe it. \_J^a}ise, 
during which Ghost approaches the opposite side of 
the mantel. ~\ How now. What do you Wi.nt with me "? 

Ghost. Much. 

Sc7'o. Who are you? 

Gho. Ask me who I was. 

Scro. Who icere you then ? You're p^rticulLr, for a 
shade. 

Gho. In life I was your prrtner, Jacob M^rc3\ 

Scro. Can you — can you bit down"? 

Gho. I can. 

)Scro. Do it, then. 

Gho. You don't believe in me ? 

Scro. I don't. 

Gho. What evidence do you require of my I'eality be- 
yond that of your senses 't 

Scro. I don't know. 

Gh>. Why do ycu doubt your senses? 

Scro. Because a little tlnng affects them. A slight 
disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. Y"ou may 
be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb 
of cheese, a fragment of an under-done potato. There's 
more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are. 
You see this tooth-pick? 

Gho. I do. 

Scro. You are not locking at it. 

Gho. But I see it, notwithstanding. 

Scro. Well ! I have but to swallow this, and be for 
the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of gobblins, all 
of my own creation. Humbug, I tell you ; humbug. 
{Ghost rattles chain, tukes bandage ojf jaois, and drops 
loicerjaic as far as 2')ossible.) 

Scro {Jhtrays signs of fright.) Mercy ! dreadful 
apparition, wh}'" do you trouble me ? 

Gho. Man of the worldly mind, do you believe in me, 
or not ? 



^OZ^E 11.] OLD SCROOGE. 15 

/Scro. I do. I must. But wliy do spirits walk tlie 
earth, aud why do they come to me ? 

G/io. 1 1 is required of every man that the spirit with- 
in him should walk abroad among his fellow men and 
travel Liv and wide, and if that spirit goes not forth in 
l;j-A if i"^' '^'~>ndemiied to do so after d..e?.th. Xt is doom.ed 
to wander through the world — oh, woe is me — and wit- 
ness what it can not share, buit migl^t have shared on 
earth, tui'ned to happiness. \^/Shakes chain and wrings 
his hands.] 

tici'o. You are fettered ; tell me why ? 

Gho. I wear the chain I forged in life ; I make it link 
by link and yard by yard. I g rded it on of my own free 
will, and of my own free vriii I wore it. Is its j^attern 
strange to you ? Or vrould. you know the weigat and 
length of the strong coil you bear yourself. It was full 
as heavy and as long as this seven Christmas-eves ago. 
You have labored on it since. It is a pondrous chain! 

Scro. Jacob, old Jacob Marley, tell me more. Speak 
comfort to me, Jacob. 

GJio. I have none to give. It comes from otht^r re- 
gions, Ebenezer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other min- 
isters to other kinds of men. Nor can I tell you what I 
would. A very little more is rdl that is permitted to me. 
I can not rest, I can not stay, 1 can not linger anywhere. 
My spirit never walked beyond our counting house, 
mark me ! — in life my spirit never roved beyond the nar- 
row limits of our money changing hole ; and weary jour- 
neys lie before me. 

Scro. You must have been very slow about it, Jacob. 

Gho. Slow ? 

jScro. Seven years dead. And traveling all the time. 

Gho. The old time. No rest, no peace. Incessant 
tortures of remorse. 

Scro. You travel fast ? 

Gho. On the wings of the wind. 

Scro. You might have got over a great quantity of 
ground in seven years, Jacob. 

Gho. {Clinking his chain.) Oh! captive, bound and 
double-ironed, not to know that ages of incessant labor 
by immortal creatures ; for this earth must pass into eter- 
nity before the good of which it is susceptible is all de- 
veloped. Not to know that any Christian spirit working 
kindJy in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find 



IG OLD SvTOOGE. [aCT I. 

its iLortal M.fe loo short fc?^ its vast ir.ea.ns of r.sefu'neLf- 
xSot to kilGV* liuit B.U S;>dCfc; vi rei^'icL tjtii iiiuko aiiit il.i-; J.<.-i' 
cue iiie's OT!pcrtuniiy mifenseci. Yet, sucli wcs '.:. 01:, 
such was I ! 

Jacc.'b. 

G/io. En;-iness! [^icrbiglug his hands and sitalchiff 
cJtain.'] Mtinkind was iv-y bu8iiiess. The coniniLn wei 
fare was idj business. Charity, mercy, forbearance and 
beneYolence vfcre all my business. Tiie dealings of n y 
trade were but a di'op of waiter m the comprehensivo 
ocean of my business. [^Ilolds up chain at arm\^ lenr/llt- 
and drops it.'] At thi3 time of tlie rolling* year 1 i'uli;". r 
most. AVhy did I walk thrcuiii'li croAvds of leiiow ijein.»;s 
with my eyes turned down, and ncyer raise tbem, to thnt 
blessed Star which led the wise men to a poor aboile. 
Were there no poor housos to which its light would have 
conducted rne^ Hear me ! my time is nearly g"jne. 

/Scro. 1 will ; but don't be hr.rd upon me. Don't be 
fljwery, Jacob, pray. 

Gho. How it is that I appear before you in a shape 
that you can see, I may not tell. I liPtA^e sat invisable be- 
side you many and many a doy. That is no light part of 
my penance. I am here ta-night to warn you that you 
have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A 
chance and hope of my procuring. Ebenezer. 

^cro. You were aiways a good friend to me. Thank 'cr. 

Gho. Y"ou will be haunted by thi*ee spirits. 

/Scro. Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, 
Jacob ? 

Gho. It is. 

aSW'o- I — I think I'd. rather not. 

Gho. Without their vih-its you can not hope to shun 
the pcath I tread. Expect the first to-morrow, when the 
bell tolls one. 

>Scro. Couldn't I take'em all at once, and have it over, 
Jacob ? 

Gho. Expect the second on the next night at the 
same hour. The third on the night following, when 
the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look 
to see me no more ; and look that, for your own sake, you 
remember what has passed between us. [^Ghotit re^ylaces 
bandar/e around Jaws, rises, loinds chain about his arm. 



SOEXZ I.] OLD SCROOGE. 1*7 

?n iVc.'i ba-Jc-nard to vycmlo-in, hechoning Scrooge, uiho rises 
a h'i folhjDS. As soon as Ghost walks through vnndoim^ 
'io'i'."Ji op ins for hbn^ he 7notlo?is for Scrooge to sto2), 
atd dlsap273ars th^\)ugh trap. IVindoio closes as before. 

CrRTAIN. 



STATE TWO. 

SCENE I. — Scrooges bedroom. A small, four-post bed- 
stead loith curtains at Ij.k., bureau n. e. JBell tolls 
ttrelve. Scrooge pulls curtains aside and sits on side, 
of bed. Touches spring of his repeater., which also 
strikes twelce. 

Scro. AViiy, it isn't po^isiblo that I can have slppt 
thron,o:h a whole clay, and far into another night. It isn t 
possible that anything- has happened to the sun, and this 
is twelve o'clock at noon. 

( 77ie Spirit of C/wistmas Past rises from the hearth 
as Scrooge fnishes his Speech. ) 

Scro. Are jou the Spirit, sir, whose coming was fore- 
told to me '/ 

Soirit. I am. 

A'^ro. Who, and what are you? 

Spir. I am the ghost of Christmas Past. 

Scro. Long past /^ 

Spir. No ; your past. 

Scro. 1 beg vou will be covered. 

Spir. What ! would you so soon put out, with world- 
ly hands, the light I give ? Is it not enou;h that 3^ou 
are one of those wliose passions made this cap, and force 
me tlirou h whole trains of j'cars to wear it low upon my 
brow r* 

X"/Y>. 1 hive no intention of o£fendit,g you. May I 
ma>e bold to enquire what business has brought yoM 
here ? 

Sp 'r. Your wel fa re. 

S'l'o. I am much obliged, but I think a night of un- 
broken rest would be more conducive to that end. 

;V;>/>. Your reclamation, then. Take heed! observe 
E 



18 OLD SCEOCGE. [aCT II. 

tlie shadows of tlie past, and profit b^ llio recollectiuii oi' 
til cm. 

iScro. What would you have mc do? 

ISpir. Remain where 30U ire, while meraorj iccalls 
the past. 

SCENE II. — llie spirit vmves a 'iraiul. the scei.e cpeiti^ 
and display.^ a dlUqyldat'td scfwol-rocm. I owitg 
/Scrooge discovered seated at a icliido"- , reading. 

Scro. {Tremhllng) Good heavens! I -was a hey! 
It's the old school ; and it's the Christmas 1 was leit 
alone. 

iSjjlr. You remember it ? 

IScro. Yes, yes; 1 "know ! I was reading' ill about 
Ali Babi. Dear old honest Ali Baba. And Valentine and 
his Avild brother, Orson ; and the hultan's g-roi m turned 
upside down by the (Jeni. Served him right, J 'm glad of 
it; what business had he to be married to the Princess! 
\^Tn an tarnetst aiul ejiCitid mwhner, a')id volet let'ccen 
iaughmg a)Ld cryingr\ Tliere s the parrot : green body 
and yellow tail, with a thing like a lettuce growing out 
of the top of his head ; there he is! Poor Robin Ciusoe, 
where h..ve you been, Robin Crusoe? Thtre goes Friday, 
running for his life to the little Creek. Halloo! Hoop! 
Halloo ! \_Chao}glng io a plt'>ful tone, In allusicn to his 
forniCr se/^*.] Poor boy. 

Sjnr. Strange to have forgotten this for so many 
years. 

)Scro. {Pidthfg his hand in his pod et and dryiiuj Ids 
eyes on his ci'ff) I wish — but it's too late now. 

tSplr. AT hat is the matter? 

K^cro. Kothiig; nothing. There was a boy sing;ing a 
Christmas carol at my door, last ni<. ht, I should like to 
have given him something, that s all 

[_Young iScrooge rises and walks up and dovn. Door 
opens and Fanny Scrooge darts in and puts her arms 
about his*neck and kisses him.'] 

Fanny. Dear, dear brother ! I have come to bring 
you home, dear brother. {Clapping her hands and 
laughing gleefully.) To bring \ou home, home, home I 

Young 8. Home, little Fan f 

Fan. Yes! Home for good, and all. Home for ever 



SCENE III.] OLD SCEOOGE. 19 

and ever. Father is so much kinder than he use to be, 
that home is like He..veii. He spoke so gently to me 
on(^ dear night when I was going to Led, that I was 
not afraid to ask him once more if you might come 
home; and he said yes, >ou should; and sent me in a 
coach to bring you. And you're to be a man, and never 
to come back here ; but first we're to be together all the 
Christ.nas long, and have the merriest time in all the 
world. 

Young S. You're quite a woman, little Fan ! \^She 
claps lier hand.-i and la'cy/m, tries to touch his head, hut 
being too little, langhs again. /S'ands on tip-''oe h> em- 
brace him , and in childish eagerness and glee, drag.s him 
vyillingly toinards the door. J^xeunt.'] 

Voice [outs'cW]. Brinj- down Master Scrooge's box, 
there. 

\_Scene Closes.'] 

fSplr. Alwaj^s a delicate creature, whom a breath 
might have withered. But she had a laroe heart. 

jScro. So she h d. You're right. I will not gains y 
it, Spirit. Lord forbid. 

^27lr. She died a woman, and had, as I think, children. 

jSero. One child. 

^Spir. True ; y^ur nephew. 

/Scro. \_un asily']- Yes. 

Sjyir. Let us see another Christmas. ( Waves wand.) 

SCENE III. — Fezzliclgs Ball, full depth <{f stage, rep)- 
resentlng a loareroom. Fezziiaig and Mrs. Fezzhvig 
L., the former standing and clapping his hands, and 
the latter seated in an ar^n-chair, 77ia'nlfesting de- 
light. Old bald-headed fddler, on an elevated seat, 
at the back. Dick Wilkins, with tico Miss Fezzi- 
icigs, foricard to right and back. Scrooges for- 
mer self advances and retires to the partners., loith 
fancy steps : hands around; right and left ; ladies 
change ; balance; pjronienade Other characters to 
fill up the picture. Laughter and inerriment to 
follow Scrooge's speech. 

Spir. Do you know it ? 

Gho. Know it! I was apprenticed here. Whj'-, its 
old Fezziwig. Bless his heart; its Fezziwig alive again, 



20 OLD SCROOGE. [aOT II. 

and Mrs. Fozziwii:^, too. Dick Wilkiiis, to be suro, with 
Fezziv^ig's two daughters. Blcs^ mo, yes. " There he is. 
He was vcr;rmuch attached to me, was Dick. Poor Dick. 
And see me, cutting- the pigeon-wing. Dear, dear, dear ! 

{Dance conies to an end amid geneixil hilarity and 
merriment, and the scene closes in.) 

Spir. A small matter to make these siljy folks so full 
of gratitude. 

Scro. Small ! AVhy, old Fezzivv'ig was one of the best 
men that ever lived. He neyer missed giving his em- 
ployees a Christmas ball. » 

Spir. AYhy, is it not ! He spent but a few pounds of 
money — three or four pound^, perhaps — . Is that so 
much that he deserves vour prpjse? 

Scro. It isn't that, Spirit. He had the power to ren- 
der us ha-ppy or unhapp}^ ; to mike our services light or 
burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power 
lives in words and looks ; in things so light and unsig- 
nificant that it is impossible to add and count 'em up ; 
what then? The happiness he gives is quite as great as 
if it cost a fortune — oh, dear. 

Spir. What is the matter? 

Scro. l^otliing, particular. 

Soir. Something, I think. 

Scro. No, no. I should like to be able to say a word 
or t^^o to my clerk, just now, that's all. 

Spir My time grows short, lel^us hurry on. Do you 
remember this? ( Waves wand.) 

SCENE lY. — /[ room. .Enter J3Glle and Scrooge'' s former 
self., at twenty-f'ije yeirs of age. 

Scro. It is Belle, as sure as I am a living sinner. 

Belle. It matters little to you. To you very little. 
Another idol has disj^laced me ; and if it can cheer and 
comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, 
I have no just cause to grieve. 

Young S. What idol has displaced you? 

.Belle. A gulden one. 

Young S. This is the even handed dealing of the 
world. There is nothing on which it is so hard as pov- 
erty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with 
such severity, as the pursuit of wealth. 

Jielle. You fear the world to much. All 3^our other 



SCENE IV.] OLD SCROOGE. 21 

hopes have mergad into the here of bemg beyond the 
chance of its sordid repicach. I have seen your nobler 
aspirations fall olif one by one, nntil the master passion 
gain, engrossBs tou. Have I not? 

YoyMff S. What then? E'/di if I have grown ro 
much wiser, what then % I am net changed toward you, 
{She sha'^es her head.) Am 1 1 

Belle. Our contract is an old one. It was made when 
we were both poor and content to be so, imtil in good 
season, we coidi improve oui- worldly fortune by our pa- 
tient industry. You are changed. When it was made 
you were another man. 

Young S. I was a boy. 

Belle! Your own feeling tells you that you were not 
what you are. I am. That which promised happiness 
w^hen we were one in heart is fraught with misery now 
thit we are two. How often and how keenly I have 
thought of this, I will not say. It is enough that I have 
thought of it, anl can release you. 

Young S. Hcive I ever sought release? 

Belle. In words : no, never. 

Young S. In what, then ? 

Belle. In a changed nature; in an altered spirit ; in 
another atmosphere of life ; another hope as to its great 
end. In everything that made my love of any worth or 
value in your sight. If this had never been between us, 
tell me, would you seek me out and try to win me now ? 
Ah, no ! 

Young S. You think not? 

Belle. I would gladly think otherwise, if I could; 
Heaven knows. When I have learned a truth like this, 
I know how^ strong and irresistible it must be. But if you 
were free to-day, to-morrow, yesterday, can even I believe 
that you would choose a dowerless girl — you, who, in 
your very confidence with hsr, weigh everything by gain; 
or chosing her, if for a moment you were false enough 
to your one guiding princiiDle to do so, do I not know 
that your repentance and regret would surely follow? I 
do; and I release you, with a full heart, for the love 
of him you once w^ere. {He is about to speaJc, but with 
her head turned from him she re.mmes.) You may--the 
memory of what is past half makes me hope you will- 
have pain in this. A very, very brief time, and you wdll 
dismiss th3 recollection of it, gladl}^, as an unprofitable 
F 



22 OLD SCROOGE . [aCT II. 

dream, from which it ^^appened well that yoti aw )\i2. 
May you be happy in the life yju have chosen. Fard 
well. \_J^.vit.2 

Young jS. {Folloicing) Belle, Belle! Hear mj. Let 
me explain. \_J^xit.'] 

\_Scene Closes.'] 

Scro. SjDirit, show me no more ! Condnct me home. 
AVhy do yon delight to torture me ? 

jSiyir. Oh, mortal, what a treasure didst thou cast 
away. She, whom you resigned for paltry gold, became 
the happy wife of your former schoolmate, Kemper. 
One shadow more. Behold now tie tender mother of 
smiling children, in their joyous home — a liome that might 
have been your own. 

Sero. No more I no more ! I don't wish to see it. 

iSpir. Behold. ( Waves Wand.) 

SCENE V. — Dravnng room. Six or eight children, of 
various sizes, in groiqjs, playing with toys. A 
Christmas tree, trimmed and lighted. Mr. and 
3Irs. Kemper seated at table ; their daughter Belle 
seated at Jire, dressing a doll for one of the girls. 

Mr. K. Belle, I saw an old friend o! j^ours this after- 
noon. 

Mrs. K. Who was it? 

Mr. K. Guess ? 

Mrs. K. How can 1 1 Tut, don't I know {laughingly), 
Mr. Scrooge? 

3Tr. K. Mr. Scrooi>-eitwas — your old sweetheart {laugh- 
ing). I passed his ofiice window, and as it was not shut up, 
and he had a candle inside, I could scarcely help see- 
ing him. His partner, old Jacob Marley, lies upon the 
point of death, I hear. And there he sat, alone. Quite 
alone in the world, I do believe. 

Mrs. K. Poor old man. 

\_8cene ClosesP\ 

Scro., Spirit {in a broken voice)., remove me from 

this place. 

Sp)ir. I told you these were shadows of the things that 



!aJi:N£ I.] OLD SCROOGE. 23 

]iiv8 been. That tliey are wliat tliey are, do not blame 
nie. 

S'To. I am to blame for what tliey are, and now that 
I Bed what they might have been, I am more wretched 
than evdr. Kemove me! I can not bear it. {Turns 
itpoi^ the spirit, and struggles vith it.) Leave me I Take 
me back! Haunt me no longer! [Seizes the extm-^ 
(julsher-G'.q), j»J>resse6* it down, while spirit sinks throiigh 
trap, and disappears. When trap is replaced, Scrooge 
reels to the bedstead, apparently exhausted, and with the 
cap grasped in his hand, falls asleep.) 

CURTAIN. 



STxVYE THflEE. 

SCSXS T. — Adjomlng room in Scrooge's house. Flat 
to represent piles of turkegs, geese, game, poultry, 
Joints of meat, suckingpigs, strings of sausages, 
oysters, mince pies, plum-puddings, pears, appdes, 
oranges, cakes and bowls of punchy also holly, nils- 
tleto and ivy. 

The Spirit of Christmas Present r. \_a giant'], discov- 
ered holding a glow I Jig torch — shaped like a cornucj- 
2)la, to shed lis llgJit on Scrooge's entrmice. 

S^jir. Come in ! 

TJnter Scrooge, timidly, l. 

S2n7'. Come in, and knovv^ me better, man. You have 
never seen the like of me before. 

Scro. Never. 

Spir. H-Lve never walked forthwith the 3^ )unger mem- 
bers of my family, meaning — for I am very young — my 
elder brothers, born in these later years ? 

Scro. I don't think I have. I am afraid I have not. 
Have you had many brothers. Spirit ? 

Splr. More than eighteen hundred. 

Scro, A tremendous family to provide for. Spirit, 
conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on 
compulsion, and I learned a lesson which is working now. 



24 OLD SCEOOGE. [aCT III. 

To-nig-lit, if jcw lip.ve auglit to teach me, ^et me profit 
by it. 

/Sjnr Tcu'^li ir^y robe, and remember lli.it wo are in- 
visible, and miab.e to man-fjst our presence to thofre 
witli whom we come in contict. Loose rob your hold, 
lest you should lose yourself. \_SxGunt l.j 

SCENE 11.— Bob CraMiiU home. 31rs: Cratchit dis- 
covered laying cloth., Belinda assisting her. JSloMer 
I*eter Crctchit bloiclng the fire. 

3Trs. C. What has ever ,c;'ot y )nr precious father, 
then? And yriT brother, Tiny Tim! And Martha 
warn't as late last Christmas Day by half an hour? 

Enter Zfittle Cratchit and Martha. Door in flat. 

Little G. Here's Martha, mother! Here's Martha 
Hurrah ! Oh, Martha, there's such a big goose at the 
bakers, next door. I smelt it cooking, 

Mrs. C. Why, bless your he^.rt juive, my dear, how 
late you are! {Kissing her and taking off her bonnet aoid 
shaid. ) 

Martha. We'd a deal of work to finish up last night, 
and had to clear awoy this morning, mother. 

Mrs. C. AVell, never mind, so long as yon are come. 
Sit ye dovvui before the fire, ni}' dear, and have a warm. 
Lord bless ye. 

Zittle C. No, no I There's father coming. Hide, 
Martha, hida. {Martha gets behind the door.) 

Enter Bob Cratchit %inth Tiny Tim on his shoidder and 
little crutch in his hand. Spirit and iScrooge fol- 
lowing, coming dovn front, and obseri:- 
ing with interest all that passes. 

Bob. AVhy, where's our Martha? {Looking around 
a7id putting Tiny Tim dovn.) 

lAttle C Come, Tiny Tim, and see the pudding boil. 
\_Exeunt children.'] 

Mrs. C Not coming. 

Jiob. Not coming! not coming, on Christmas Daj^? 

Mar. {Running into his arms.) Dear father ! I could 
not see you disappointed, if it were only in joke. 

Bob. {Embraces her.) You're a good girl, Martha, 



SCENE I.] OLD SCROOGE. 25 

till a great comfort to us ail. {Commences to mix a 
bowl of ^^K'iich.) 

3L's. C. And how did little Tim behave? 

J3ob. As good as gold, and better. Somehow he gets 
thoiigiitfrJ, sitting by him.seif so much, and thinks the 
strangest things yon ever heard. He told me, coming 
home, that he noped the people saw him in church, be- 
cause ne was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them 
to remember upon Cnristmas Day, who made lame beg- 
gars walk and blind men see. Tiny Tim is growing 
strong and hearty. 

Enter Little Cratchit ayid Peter Cratchit toith the goose, 
followed by Tiny Tun. 



Little G. Hurrrh ! Hurrah ! Here's Peter with the 

^ goose. 

Tiny Tim.. Hurrah ! 



{Children plci'ie chairs around the table; Bob puts Tiny 
Tim in a high chair beside him., and Peter on his le-^'t, 
facing front., Belinda and TAttle Cratchit opposite. 
Mrs. C. and Martha at the end of the table. Bob carves 
and serves the goose, 3Irs. C. the gravy and mashed po- 
tatoes^ and Martha the apple-sauce.) 

Little C Oh! oh! Look at the stuffing. 

Tiny T. Hurrah ! 

Bob. I don't believe there ever was such a goose as 
this cooked. It's more tender than a woman's love, and 
only cost two and sixpence. A Merry Christmas to us 
all, my dears. God bless us. 

All. God bless us. 

Tiny T. God bless us every one- 

Scro. Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live ? 

82yir. I see a vacant seat in the poor chimney-cor- 
ner and a crutch without an owner carefully j^reserved. 
If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, none 
other of my race will find him here. What then ? If he 
be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the sui* 
plus population. 

Scro. {Hangs his head.) My very words. 

jSpir. Man — if mm you be in heart, not adamant — 
forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered what 
the surplus is, and where it is. Will you decide what 



26 OLD SCROOGE. [aCT III. 

men shall live, what men shall die. It mry be, in the 
sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less lit to livo 
than millions like this poor man's child. Oh, Heaven ! to 
hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much 
life among his hungry brothers of the dust ! 

3Irs. C Now, Martha and Belinda, change the plates, 
while I bring the nuts, apples and oranges. 

J^ob. {Hisliig and plac'uig the punch-bod on the table ) 
Here is what will remind us it is Christmas. [Fills three 
tumblers and custard-cup vnthout a handle^ and 2>f^sses 
them to 3Irs. C, Peter and 3lartha.) I'll give yen Mr. 
Scrooge, the founder of the feast. 

3Irs. C. The foundt r of the feast, indeed ! I wish 1 
had him h:re, I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast 
upon, and 1 hope he'd have a good appetite for it. 

Bob. My dear, the children ! Christmas Day. 

3Irs. C. It should be Christmas Day, I am sure, on 
wdiich one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, 
hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, 
Robert. Nobody knows it bttter than you, poor fellow. 

J^ob. My dear, Christmas Day. 

3Irs. C. I'll drink his health for your sake and the 
day's, not for his. Long life to him. A Merry Christ- 
mas and a Happy New Year ! He'll be very merry and 
very happy, I have no doubt. 

All. A Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. 

tScro. Spirit, take me away. I see the very mention 
of my name casts a gloom on what, were it not for me, 
would be a very hapj^y party. 

/S^^^V. Wait ; they will soon put the memory of you 
aside, and will be ten times merrier than before, ahd Tiny 
Tim will sing. 

Scro. No, no ; take me hence. 

{As they retire tovmrd the door, the S2nrit shakes his 
torch toivard the parti/, which restores good humor.) 

Jjittle G. Oh ! we forgot the pudding ! 
All. The pudding ! the pudding ! {Ijaughter and 
confusion.) 

SCENE III. — A street. 3Iansion iclth lighted win- 
dovn, shoioing shadoio of a group). Sounds of music 
mside. 



SCENE III.] OLD SCEOOGE. 2t 

JSiitcr Spirit and Scrooge l. A lamp-lighter inlth torch 
and ladder r ; as he j^asses them, the spirit toaves 
his torch, and the lamp-lighter exits singing a carol. 
J^ titer ttvo 7)ie?r, quarreling. 

First Man. But, I know better, it is not so. 
Second Man. It is so, and I will not submit to con- 
tradiction. 

{Spirit leaves his torch over them.) 

First Man. Well, I declare, here we are, old friends, 
quarreling on Christmas Day. It is a shame to quarrel 
en Christmas Day. 

Second Man. So i^ is a shame to quarrel on this day. 
God love it, so it is ; come, and if we are not merry for 
the rest of it, it shall not be my fault. \_Exeunt.'\ 

Scro. Spirit, is there a peculiar flavor in what you 
sprinkle from your torch? 

Spir. There is. My own. 

Scro. I notice that you sprinkle it to restore good 
humor, and over dinners. Would it apply to any kind of 
dinner on this day? 

Spir. To any kindly given. To a poor one most. 

Scro. Why to a poor one most? 

Sp)ir. Because it needs it most. 

Enter Ignorance and 'Want; approaching the Spirit, 
they kneel at his feet. Scrooge starts back apjpjalled. 

Spir. Look here! oh, man, lock here! Look! look 
dovfii here. Behold, where graceful youth should have 
filled their features out and touched them with its fresh- 
est tints; a stale and shriveled hand, like that of age, 
has pinched and twisted them and pulled them into 
shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils 
lui'k and glare but, menacing. No change, no degrada- 
tion, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through 
all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half 
so horrible and dread. 

Scro. They are fine-looking children. Spirit, are they 
yours % 

Spir. They are man's. And they cling to me, ap- 
j^ealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance, this 
girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree ; 
but most of all, beware this boy, for on his brow I see 
that written which is doom, unless the writing be erased. 



28 OLD SCROOGE. [aCT III. 

Deri}'- it, great city. Slander those who tell it ye. Ad- 
mit it for 3'our factious purposes, make it worse, and 
abide the end. 

iScro. llav(? tliey no refuge or resource/' 

iSpi/r. Are tiiere no prisons? Are there no work- 
houses? 

ticro. My ver}^ words, again. 

iScro. Begone ! hideous, wretched creatures, your 
habitation should not be in a Christian land. {Ignorance 
and Want slouch ojf.) Let us proceed, time is pissing, 
and mj life is hastening to an end. 

iScro. Are spirit's lives so short'/ 

^Spir. My life on this globe is very brief It ends to- 
night. 

jScro. To-night ? 

/Sjoir. To-night, at midnight. [Exeunt.) 

SCENE IV. — Draiolng room. Mr. and Jlrs. Fred 
IMtrry, Jliss Julia Kemper , Miss Sarah Kemper y 
Mr. J horn as Topiper, Mr. Henry jSnapper., discov- 
ered seated around the desert table. tSercant serving 

cojf^e. 

All. [Laughi}ig ) Ha, ha! ha, ha, ha, ha! 

Kn.ter Spirit and Scrooge, l. 

Fred. He said Christmas was a humbug, as I live. 

All. Ha, ha! Ha, ha, hi, ha! 

Fred, lie believed it, too. 

Mrs. M. More shame for him, Fred! 

Fred. He's a comical old fellow, that's the truth ; and 
not so pleasant as he might be ; however, his olfenses 
carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say 
against him. 

^[rs M. I'm sure he's very rich, Fred. At least you 
alwa3's tell me so. 

Fred. "What of that, my dear. His wealth is of no use 
to him. He don t do any good with it. He doiitmake 
himself comfortable with it. He hasn't the satisfaction of 
tliinking — !ia, ha, ha, ha ! — that he is ever going to bene- 
fit us with it 

Mrs. M. I have no patience with him. 

Julia. Neither have I for such a stingy old wretch! 



SCENE IV.] OLD SCROOGE 29 

Fred Oh, I have. I am sorry for In'in ; 1 conldii'tbo 
angiy wilh liiiu li'i trioa \S\\ , suflLns by his ill Wiiiijisi:' 
llinisjlf, always. Here he takes it into his head to dis- 
like us, and ho won't come and dine with us. What s the • 
conse(|!UM]ep "^ TTa do*) t h>«'^ ntufdi of a dinner. 

J//-0'. M. Indeed, I think he los:s a very good dinner. 

S trah. A much betti.'i- one than he could have served 
up in his old dingv^ chambin's 

Fred. Well, I'm ver glail to hear it, because? 1 haven'i, 
great faith in these yonn ; househeepers. What do yoti 
say. Topper.^ 

Topper. A bachelor like niTself is a wre!;ched outcast, 
and has no riglit to express an opinion on such an impor- 
tant subject 

3irs. M. Do go on, Fred. He never finislies what he 
begins to say. lie is sncli a ridiculous fellow 

Fred. I was ouly going to say, that the consequence 
of our uncle ta^iin^ a disli e to us, and not making merry 
with us, /.s', as I thin , th t lie loses some pleas mt mo- 
ments, which could do liini inj h rin. J am sure he loses 
pleasanter companions th n he finds in his own thoughts, 
either in his moldy old office or his dusty chambers. I 
mean to i^'ive him the same chance every year, whether 
he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at Christ- 
mas till he dies, but he can't help thinking better of it 
— I defy him — if he finds me ::oing there, in good tem- 
per, yenir alter vear, and sa ing, Jncle Scrooge, I wis^i 
yo T A M,u-ry Christmas . nd A Happy New Year ! If 
it only puts him in the vain to leave his poor clerk 
fifty^ pounds, tJiais something ; and I think I shook him 
yesterday. — Come, let us have some music. Here, Thomas, 
clear away. 

\^All rise and go to the piano. Walter clears table dur- 
ing the singing ofaChristmas carol or ariy selected piece.'] 

Fred. We must not devote the whole evening to mnsic. 
Suppcsa we have a game? 

All. A^n-eed. 

Spir. Time flies ; I have grown old. We must hasten 
on. 

aS'?'-^. No, no ! One half liour. Spirit, only one. 

Fred. I have a new^ game to propose. 

S%rah. What is it ? 

Fred. It is a game called Yes and No. I am to think 
H 



30 OLD SCROOGE. [aCT IIT. 

of somethin:^ and you are all to p-uoss what it is. I ;nn 
thinking of an animal, a live animal, rather a disa<;ree- 
able animal, a saA^age animal that growls and grunts s* m j 
times, and talks sometimes, and lives in London, rnd 
walks about the streets, and is not made a show of, f nd is 
not led by anybody and doii't live in a menagerie, rai.l io 
not a horse, a cow or a donkey or a bujl. There, now. 



guess? 






Mrs. Jj 


'. Is 


it a pig? 


Fred. 


No. 




Julia . 


Is it 


a tiger? 


Fred. 


No. 




Topper. 


, Is it a dog ? 


Fred. 


No. 




Sarah. 


Is it 


a cat? 



Snapper. It's a monkty. 

Fred. No. 

3Irs. M. Is it a bear ? 

Fred. No. 

Jidla. I have found it out ! I know what it is, Fred ! 
I know what it is ! 

Fi ed. What is it ? 

Jidia. Its your nncle Scro-o-o-oge ! 

Fred. Yes. 

All. Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha! 

Mrs. M. It is hardly fair, you ought to have said yes, 
when I said, it's a bear. 

Fred. He has given us plenty of m.erriment, I'm sure, 
and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health. Here 
is some mulled wine ready to our hand at the moment ; 
and when you are ready I say uncle Scrooge ! [Servant 
brings wine fo^m-ard.) 

All. Well ! Uncle Scrooge ! 

Fred. A Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to 
the old man. He wouldn't take it from me, but may he 
have it, nevertheless. Uncle Scrooge ! 

All. Uncle Scrooge, uncle Scrooge ! 

{Scrooge seems to make efforts to reply to the toast, 
v'hile sjnrit drags him away.) 

CURTAIN. 



S^-JJS I-II.] OLD SCROOGE- 31 

STATE FOUR. 

SCENE I. — Scrooge s chambers. 
Scrooge discovered upon his knees. 

Siro. Can this be tlio Spirit of Christmas Future that 
I see approaching ? shrouded in a black g irment, which 
conceals its head, its form, its face, and leaves nothing* 
visible save one outstretched hand. I am in the presence 
of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. It points on- 
wird with its hand. You are about to show me the shad- 
ows of things that have not happened, but will happen in 
the time before us. Is that s ), Spirit ? {^lllses and stands 
trembling .) Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than 
any sj^ectre I have seen ; but as I know y crar purpose is 
to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man 
from what I was, I am prepered to bear you company, 
and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak 
to me? It will not speak. The Land points straight 
be ore us. Lead on! Lead on! The night is waning 
fist, audit is precious tim3 to me, I know. Lead on, 
Spirit. 

{S'rrooge crosses stage., as if foil ov^ in g Spirit to tor- 
mentor entrance^ and remains wlille the scene changes.) 

SCENE II.— .d Street. 

Scro. Ah, here comes Stevens and there Jones. I 
have always made it a p^int to stand well in their es- 
teem — that is in a business point of view. 

Enter 3Ir. Stevens e. and Mr. Jones l., meeting. 

Stevens. How are you? 

Jones. Pretty well. So Old Scratch has got his own, 
at last, hey ? 

Stev. So I am told. Cold, isn't it? 

Jones. Seasonable for Christmas-time. You're not a 
skater, I suppose? 

Stev. No, no. Something else to think of. Good 
\_JExeHnt in opposite directions.'] 



32 OLD SCROOGE. [.VCT IV. 

Scro. Ah, here are more of my ol.l bii-i:iess frien.lF;; 
the Spirit uiiovti iiiu lu hear vvh^Lt tiiey sij. 

Enter Mr. Fatchln, Mr. Snuffer and Mr. Bed face.. 

Mr. F. No : I don't know miichabcub it, either way; 
I only know he's dead. 

Mr. R. When chd he die? 

3Ir. F. Last night, I beheve. 

Mr. IS. Why, what was the matter with him ? ( Takes 
snuff' out of a large snuff-box.) I thorght he would 
never die. 

3Ir F. I did not take the trouble to inquire. 

3//. 11. What has he done with his money ? 

Mr. F. I haven't heard {yauming) ; left it to his com- 
pany, perhaps. He hasn't left it to me. Tr at all I know. 
l^Lll laugh.) It's likely to be a very cheap funeral, for 
upon my liiv. I don't know of ar y body to go to it. Sup- 
pcS3 we make up a party and volunteer ? 

Mr. R. I don't mind going if a lunch is pro vi led. 
I must be fed if I make one. i^All laugli.) 

Mr. F. Well, I am the most disinters s!:ed, after all, 
for I never wear blackg loves and I never eat lunch. 'But 
I'll offer to go, if anj^ body else will. When I come to 
think of it, I am not at all sure tli; t I wasn't his most 
particular friend ; for we used to stop and speak wiien- 
ever we met. 

3Ir. S. 1 would volunteer, but that I hive another 
little matter to t. ttend to that will prevent me. However, 
I have no objections to joining you in a drink to his 
memory. 

Mr. R. I am with you. Let us adioarn to the punch 
bowl. \_Exeunt.'] 

Scro. To whc m can these allusions refer ; Jacob M;U' 
ley has been dead these seven years, and sure'y those 
wnom I have considered my best friends would not spe.'ik 
of my de .th so unfeelingly. I suppose, however, that 
these conversations have some latent moral fo.* my own 
improvement, f.nd as 1 have now resolved upon a change 
of life, 1 shall treasure up all I see and hear. Lead on, 
Shadow, I follow! {Crosses to the opposite entrance and 
remains,) 



SCZNii; III.] OLD SCROOGE. ' 33 

SOENE III.— Interior' of a junk or pmm-shop. 

J'.nter Old Joe, v.shering in 31rs. Marujle, Mrs, JJilher 
a) id Mr. /Shroud, door in flat. 

Old Joe. Yen couldn't h five met in a letter pkce; 
come in. You were made free here long ago, you know, 
and tile other two ain't strangers. Stop till I shut the 
door of the shop. Ah! how it skritk^s! Tiiere isn't 
such a lUsty bit of metal in the ] Uce as its own hinges, i 
believe, and I'm sure there's no Fuch old bones here as 
mhie. Ha, ha! AVe're ail suit9.ble to cur calling, we're 
well matched. Come, come! we are at heme here. 
[Trims smoky lamp at table.) 

3/rs. 31. AVhat odds, then ! What odds, Mrs. Diiber? 
[T/iroirs her bundle on tlie floor and sits on a stool, rest- 
ing her elbows on her knees.) Every person has a right 
to take care of themselves. He always did. 

3Irs. D. That's true, indeed ! No man cared for him- 
self more than he did. 

Mrs. 31. AVhy, then, don't«stand staring as if you was 
afraid, w^oman ; who's the wiser ? We're not gomg to 
pick holes in each ether's coats, I suppose ? 

3Tr. Shroud. No, in:leed ! We snould hope not. 

Mrs. 31. Very well, then ; that's enough Who's the 
w^orse for the loss of a lev tilings like these? Not a 
dead m ;n, I suppose. 

3'[r. S {Laughing.) No, indeed. 

3Irs. 31. If he wanted to keep 'em after he was dead, 
the wicked old Screw, why wasn't he natural in his life 
time 't If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look 
after him when he was struck with death, instead of l^^ing 
g.:spiug out his last there, alone by himself. 

3Ir.^. J). It's the truest word ever w^as spoke. It's a 
judgment on him. 

3Irs. 31. I wish it w^as a little heavier judgment, and 
it should have been, you may depend upon it, if I could 
have laid my hands on anythirg else. Open that bundle. 
Old Joe, and let me know the value of it. Speak out 
plain. I'm not afraid to be the first, nor afraid to let 
them see it. We knew pretty well that w^e were helping 
ourselves, before we met here, I believe. It's no sin. 
'Open the bundle, Joe. 

3Ir. iS. Oh, no ; we don't mind showing what w^e have. 

I 



34 OLD SCROCGE. [aCT IV. 

Here, Joe, value these. (Mrs. D. and Mr. S. lay t/ie>r 
packages on the table and -Toe proceeds to examhiethcm ) 

Joe. ( Chalking the ^figures on the v:all as ht names 
them.) A seal, eight shillings ; pencil-case, three and tix 
pence ; pair of sleeve-l)Uott)ns, live and four-pence : scar''- 
pin, nincpencc. Nine and four, thirteen, and pix. i*^ n'nc- 
teen — seven. One and five's six, and thirteen is n.ne, and 
eight makes seventeen. Tiiat's j^our account, and I 
wouldn't give another sixpence if I was to be boiled for 
it. Who's next? 

3Irs. D. I hope you'll be more liberal with me, Mr. 
Joe. I'm a poor, lone widow, and it's hard for me to 
make a living. 

'Toe. I always give too much to the ladies. It's a 
weakness of mine, and (hit's the way I ruin mysel . Un- 
der-clothing, sheets, towels, sugar-tongs ; ^hese tea-spoons 
are old-fashioned, and the boots won't bear mending. 
One pound six, that's your account. If you nsked me 
another penny, and made it an open question I'd repent 
of being liberal, and knock off half-a crown. 

3Irs. M. Now, undo my bundle, Joe. 

Joe. (Opjening bundle.) What do you call this ? Bed 
curtains ? 

Mrs. M. Ah! {Laughing.) Bed curtairs. 

Joe. You don't mean to say you took 'em down, rings 
and all, with Old Scrooge lying there? 

J//%9. 31. Yes 1 do. Why not? 

Joe. You were born to make your fortune, and you'll 
certainly do it. 

3Irs. 31. I certainly shan't hold my hand, when I can 
get anything in it by reaching it out, for the sake of such 
a man as he was, I promise you, Joe. Don't droj:) that 
oil uj^on the blank at, now. 

Joe. His blankets ? 

3[rs. 3f. Whose else's do you think ? He isn't like.^y 
to take cold without 'em, I dare say. 

Joe. I hope he didn't die of anything catching. Eh? 
{Stop2)lng his fork and looking ^<P-) 

3frs. M. Don't you be afraid of that ; I ain't so fond 
of his company that I'd loiter about him for such things 
if he did. Ah, you may lock through that shirt till your 
eyes ache, but ^''ou won't find a hole in it nor a thread- 
bare place. It's the best he had, and a fine one, too. 
They'd have wasted it if it hadn't been for me. 



Sn-^-TS IV.] OLD SCROOGS. 35 

»/"'"?. AVliat do yoi call wasting of i':? 

31 -s. M. [Ij%ughln(/.) Patting \; on him to be 
b irie 1 i'l, to by 8uv3. Sjinjb )Iv w cs fool enougli to do 
ij, bi: I "jok it off agiin. It cxlico ain't good enough 
fjr sn^'i a purpose, it isn't goo 1 enough for anything. 
IVs '13 brooming to the boly. Ha cm'i: look uglier tlim 
hi did in thxt one. 

'Toe. Well, well! I'll ruin mysslf agun. I'll give you 
tw ) giliais for the lob, an i go to tlia binkrupt courb. 
i^lWces baq of coin and counts oat their am/mnts.) 

3Irs. M. Hi, hi ! Tais is the eni of it, you see. He 
frighten 1 1 every on a awiy from him when he was alive, 
to pr3tit us waen he was deii. 

All. Ha, ill, ha! \_Eicnint door in fl.it, old Joe light- 
ing them ont.'^ 

iS^ro. Spirit! I see, I S39. Ttiis is my own case, if 
nothing happens to change it. My life ten is this way. 
Spii'it, in leaving this, I shall not leave its lesson ; trust 
me. It there is an}'' person in the city who feels the least 
emotion for the death here announced, show that person 
to me. \_Crosses to l., v'hile scene closes in.'\ 

SCENE IV. — Street. E.xterlor of Scrooge S Marleys 

Counting House. 

Syro. Why, here is my place of business, and has been 
occupied bySjroge & Marley for many years. I see the 
house, let me behold what I shall be in the days to come. 
Why, Spirit, the house is yonder. Why do you point 
away? {Goes to the wlndoin and looks in.) It is the 
old offlse still ; the same furniture; but no one occupies 
my chair. Ah ! some one comes. 

Enter James Badger from Counting House., (P't'^O ^ff 
right., meets Mrs. Badger at right entrance. 

Mrs. li. Ah! James, I have waited for you so long. 
What news? Is it good or bad? 

Junes. Bad. 

3frs B. We are quite ruined ? 

James. No. There is hope yet, Caroline. 

3Irs. B. If he relents, there is. Nothing is past hope, 
if such a miracle has happened. 

James. He is past relenting. He is dead< 



36 OLD SCROOGE. [aCT IV. 

3Irs. Jj. Dead! Thank Her. yen : we are saved. 
[l^aiise.) I p-V.y forgiveneys. I ttm ho.ry tiutt 1 gavt; 
expresHicn to the emotions of my heart. 

James. What the half drunkt;n woman, wdicm I told 
YC11 o: last nii^'lit, said to me when I tried to see nim and 
obtain a week's delay, and wdiat I thought was a mere 
excuse to avcid me, turns out to have been quite true. 
He was not on.y vcry i J, but dying then. 

Mrs. Ji. To whom will our debt be transferred? 

James. I don't know, and I have been unable to ascer- 
tain. At all events, before that time we shall be readv 
wdth Ihi money ; and e en thougli we were not, it wou.d 
be a bad fortune indeed to find so merciless a creditor 
in his successor. We ii-ay sleep tc-night with light 
hearts, Caroline ! 

3'[rs. B. Yes; and oar dear children will bi brighter 
v/hen they find the gloom diBpelled from the minis of 
tiiiir parents. We cannot dei 3^ ihi,t this m?.n's deatii 
has occasioned some happiiess. 

James. Cojie, let us liuiiy home [^Eceunt, r.] 

JScro. Si)irit, it is evident chat the 011 y emjtio-i 3'OU 
can show me, caused by the event loreshadow^ed, is 
one of pleasure. Let me see scm3 tenderness con- 
nected With the death of another, or wh it has just been 
shown me will be forover present in my mind. 

SCENE \.—Bob Cratchifs home. Mrs. CratcMf, Be- 
limkL Jjlttle (Jratchlt and Feter Cratchlt discovered 
at table, the tico former seicing and the latter read- 
ing a book. 

Peter. [Reading.) And he took a child and set him 
in the midst of them. 

8cro. Where have I heard those words? I have not 
di.'eamed them. Why does he not go on? 

Mrs C. (^Betrays emotions ; lags her work upon the 
talile, and puts htr hand to her face.) The color hurts 
my eyes. 

Jhl. Yes, poor Tiny Tim ! 

Mrs. C. Tnty're better now^ It makes them weak 
by candle-light; and I wouldn't sho.v weak eyes to your 
fctther when he comes home, for the world. It mast be 
near his time. [Resumes her work.) 

Peter. Past it, rather [shutting u^^ book], but I think 



SCENE v.] OLD SC'KOOGE. 3? 

ii(' has \valk(3(l a little slower than he' used, tliese hist few 
eve.iii]L''s, niutlier. 

Mrs. a. [In, <(, fiilt< ring voice.) I lia\e known hinri 
walk with — I have known liirn walk with Tiny Tim upon 
liis slioiilder very fast indeed. 

Pete>-. And so have I, often. 

Bd. And so have I. 

Mrs. (J. But he was very light to carry, and his father 
loved liim so, that it was no trouble; no trouble. And 
there is your fathei" at the door. 

Enter Boh (yratchit. Bilhida <i)ul Little (yrak'/dt meet 

him; Peter plaees a chair for hlrn, and Mrs. C. 

ave7'ts her head to conceal her e)notio)t. Bob 

kisses Belinda^ and takes Little (J. on 

his knees., loho lays his little cheek 

against his face. 

J^oh. Hard at work, my dears; hard at work. Why, 
how industrious you are, and what progress you are mak- 
ing. You will be done loug before Sundav. 

Mrs. C. Sunday! You went to-day, then, Robert? 

l^oh. Yes, my dear ; 1 wish you could have gone, it 
would have done you good to see how green a place it is. 
But you 11 see it often. 1 promised him that I would walk 
there on a Suida/. My little, little chil.d ! my little 
child! [Rises an.'l retires up sUigK to c nnpose himself ; 
returns aid resumes his place at the table.) Oli, I must 
tell you of the extraordinary kin(biess of Mr Scrooge's 
nephew, whom I have scarcely seen but once, and who, 
meeting me in the street, and seeing that I looked a little 
— ^^just a lit le — down, ycu know, inquired what had hap- 
pened to distress me. On which, for he is the pleasantest- 
spoken gentlemni you ever heard, I told him. 1 am 
heartily sorry for it, Mr. Critchit, he said, and heartily 
sorry for your good wife. By-the-bye, how he ever knew 
that, I don't know. 

3Irs. C. Knew what, my deari^ 

Jjob. Why, that vou were a good wife. 

Peter. Ever^'bodv knows that ! 

Bob. Very well observed, my boy. I hope the}'' do. 

Heartily sorry, he said, for your good wife. H" I can be 

of service to you in anv way, he said, giving me his 

card, that's where 1 live ; pray come to me. Now, it 

J 



38 OLD SCKOGOE. [\CT V. 

wasn't for tlu^ sake of aiiTtliiiig he mig-at be able t ) do 
for us, so much as for his kind way, that tliis was (]uit(! 
delightlul. It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny 
Tim, and felt with us. 

Mrs. C. I'm sure he's a good soul. 

Jiol). You would be sure of it. my dear, if you saw 
and spoke to him. I shouldn t be at all surprised — mark 
liiy words — if he got Peter a better situation. 

3Irs. O. Only hear that. Peter. 

Bel. And then Peter will be keepiug company with 
some one, and setting up for himselt. 

Peter. {Gr inning.) Get along with you! 

I>o/j. It's ju:-t as likely as not, one of t'-ese days; 
though there's plent/ of time for that, my deai'. But, 
however and whenever we part from one gnother, I am 
sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim, shall wei* 
01' this fii'st parting that there was among us r* 

A/j. Never, father. 

Jjod. And I know, J know, my dears, that when we 
recollect how patient and how mild he was— although he 
Avas a little child — we shall not quarrel easily among our- 
selves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doii.g it. 

All. No. never, father. {All rise.) 

I)ob. I am very happy. I am very happy! [Kisses 
31 rs C, Belinda. Yoiuie/ 0. and shaken IuukIs irith 
Peter.") Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence is from 

CURTAIN. 



STAVK FIVK. 

SCIjNE Ti.~ kScrooge\H chamber. Scrooge discovered on 
his knees at the easg chair. 

Srr(\ Spii-it! Hear me! I am not the man I was. 
I will not be the man J must h ve been, but for this 
intercourse. Why have shown me all that you have, if 
I am ])ast all hope? Good Spirit, your nature intercedes 
for me, rnd pities me. Assure me that I yet ma}'- change 
the shadows \o\\ have shown me, by an altered life. 



s-r^rsr.] old soR-^OGts. 



39 



YoT' ]rv\\ trembles. I will honor C/iri^tmis in my 
heiio, anl try to keep it all the yaxr. I will live in the 
Past, the Present and the Future. Tne spirit-4 of all 
t'lree sh ill strive within m ^ I will n )fc shut out the les.s- 
(ms that theyteich. On! tell me I mi-y sponge away 
theshal)w.s of the fntnre. ((rmsps the e%^y ch/ilr in 
JiAS a-fniij, (U if str;A,jgllii'j to d.italn it.) I) ) not g ), I 
cntreit y.)U. It shhnks. it his collapsBl, it his d win lie i 
d >wi iii:3 an easy eh lir. Yasl my own chiir, my own 
room and best— in I hippiest of all— my own ti.ne before 
me to mike am 3n Is in. Oh, Jaoob Mirley, H3aven and 
th3 Christ n IS time be praised f.n- this! I say it on my 
knees, o'd Jioob : on mykn^^s! {Rises and goes and 
opem door r., 21 e ) Tiiey are not torn down — !]he be 1 
cnvfciin^ are not torn d)wn, rings and all. They are 
there— I am here — ^bhe shalows of the things that wonld 
hive b3en, may be dispelled. They will be ; I know they 
will! {O )ywn^)ices to dress himself , piMlng eueri/thlnj 
on inroti'j, etc.) Idoi't kn^w wn.it to do! {Lvighiyig 
and crt/'iag.) T am as light as a feather; I am as happy 
as an angel; lam as merry as a school boy; lamas 
giddy as a drnnken mm. A Marry Caris':aais to erery 
1)ol7! A Hippy New year to all the world! Hilloo 
here! Waoon! HiUoi! [Dcinclng a'td capering aroiDid 
the room.) There's the saniepin thit the grnel wis in; 
there's the door by which the Gaost of Jacob Mirley en- 
terel; there's the corner {polntln.g into aljolning room) 
where the Ghost of Christmis Past sit. It's all right; 
it's all trna ; it all happened. Ha, hi, hi! {Li'ighlng 
heartily.) I don't know what day of the month it is. I 
don't know how long I've been among the Spirits. I 
don't know any thing. I'm quite a biby. Never mind; 
T don't care. Id rather be a baby. Hiloo! Avhoop ! 
Hilloo here! ( Bells or chimes commences to ring. Goes 
to loindou- and opens it.) No fog, no mist; clear, bright, 
joviil, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dince to; 
golden sunlight, heavenly sky ; sweet, fresh air; merry 
bells. Oh, glorious! glorious f {Looking out of windoo.) 
Hey ! yon boy in y.)ur Sunday clothes, what's to-day? 

F7> ice o lA.fs ide . Eh ? 

l^^ro. Wnat's to day, my line fellow'? 

Voice outside. To-day ! why. Christmas Day. 

S?.ro. It's Christmas Day ; I haven't missed it. The 
Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do any 



40 OLD SCROOGE. [aC'T V. 

tiling th(3' Ik.'. ()}' (•()iii\s{' tlu'Y can. Oi' cou]-.-;!' tliey 
can. {./ielff,rn{< to iri}ui()ir.) Haiioo, ny line feli(,\v ! 

Vcice out fit (Je. Plalloo! 

Scro. Do you know tlic poulterers in th(.' ucx^ street 
but one, at the corner I 

Voice outside. I should hope 1 (li<l. 

Scro. An intellio-ent hoy! a remarkable b( y ! J^^o y:m 
know whether they've sold the })rize turkey tiiat was 
hanging up there 't Not the little priz(^ turkey : the big 
one ? 

Voice outside. Wha'". the one as big as nie? 

Scro. A\ h it a deiigiitful l)oy. It's a pleasure to talk 
to him. Yes, my l)uck. 

Voice outside. Its hanging thei'e now. 

iScro. Is it? Go and buy it. 

Voice outside. Wlu.t do yow take me for ? 

iScro. No, no. 1 am in earnts!;. (to and buy it, anl 
tell 'tm to b] iug it he]-e, that I may give them the di- 
rections where to take it. Come l)ack with the man, and 
I'll give you a shilling. (!,)me l)a<'k with him in less than 
five minutes, and I'll give y )U half a crown. That boy's 
off like a shot. Ill send \i to Bob Crcitchi^'s. [Rtd)bliu/ 
his hands and chucklliHj) He shan't know wh(j sent it. 
It's twice the size of Tiin- Tim. Joe Miller never made 
such a joke as sending it to Bob's Avill l)e. I must 
write the directions f(,r tliat tuikey. [Sits at table to 
-write. ) 

SCENE II.— .1 stree';. Exttrior of S-rooges Chambers, 

Knter Scro(><fe from the house. 

Scro. {AddressliHj the knocker on the door.) I shall 
love it as h ng rs I live. {Patting the knocker.) I 
scarcely ever looked at it before. What an lumest ex- 
pression it has in its face. It's a wondeiful knocker. — 
Here's the turkey 

Enter bog with large turkey. 

Scro. Halloo ! Whoop ! How arc^ you ! Merry Christ 
raas! There\s a turkey for you ! This bird never could 
have stood upon his legs, he would have snapped em 
short off in a minute, like sticks of se:iling-wax. Here\s 
your half-crown, boy. Now take the monster to Bob 



SCENE II.] OLD SOROOGE. 41 

Cratchit, Camden-town ; and tell him it's a present from 
liis grandmother, who wishes him A Merry Christmas, 
and A Happy New Year. H(>.d, that turkej^ is too large 
for 3^on to carry ; take a cab, here's the money to pay 
for it. 

Knter JJr. and Mrs. Badyer., r. 

Scro. Why, here comes James Badger and wife, as 
sure as I live. Good morning ! 

'fames. Good morning, sir ! A Merry Christmas to 
you ! 

Scro. The same to yow both, and many of them. 

3Irs. B. He seems in a good humor, speak to him 
about it. 

A'c/v>. Goinsf to churcli. eh? 

Jmiies. We were going, sir, to hear the Christmas 
Carols, tut mindful of the obligation resting upon us, 
which falls due to-morrovr, and of our inability to meet the 
payment, we ha\ e called to beg your indulgence, and ask 
for a further extension of time. 

Aero. Wi y, James, how much do you owe me ? 

James. Twenty pounds, sir. 

iScro. How long since ymi contracted the debt? 

James. Ten years to mo]'row, sir. 

iScro. Then you have ali-eady paid me over half the 
amount in interest, which interest has been compounded, 
and I have, in fact, received more than the principal. My 
dear fellow, you owe me nothing, just consider the debt 
cancelled. 

James. Surely, sir, you cannot mean it. 

iScr^o. But I do. 

3Irs. J>. Oh, sir, how can we ever sufficiently mani- 
fest our gratitude for such unexpected generosity ? 

Scro. By saying nothing about it. Remember, James 
and wife, this is Christmas day, and on this day, of all 
others, we should do unto others as we Avould have them 
do unto us. 

James. May Heaven reward you, sir. You have 
lightened our hearts of a heavy burden. 

Scro. There, there ! go to church. 

James. We shall, sir, and remember our benefactor in 
our devotions. {Shaking hands. ) I can say heartily a 
Merry Christmas. 

Mrs. B. And A Happy New Y^ear. \_Exeunt l.] 

K 



42 OLD 8CROCGE, [acT V. 

iScro. I guess they are glad, now, that I am ahve, and 
will be really sorry when I die. Halloo ! Whoo}) ! 

HJnter Mr. J^arnes, l,., 2)ai>ses across stage; jScroof/e f{,l- 
lovas and stops him. 

iScro. My dear sir {taking both his hands), how do 
you do ? I hope yon succeeded yesterday. It was very 
kind of ycu. A Merry Chiistmas to you, sir. 

Mr. B. Mr. Scrooge ? 

^cro. Yes. That is my nime, and I fear it may not 
te i^leasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And 
will you have the goodness — {/Scrooge whispers in his 
ear.) 

31r. B. Lord blees me — you take my breath awFy. 
My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you really serious ? 

Scro. If you please. Not a farthing less. A great 
many back payments are included in it, I assure you. 
Will you do me the favor t 

Mr. B. My dear sir {shaking ha?ids with hini),l don't 
know what to say to such munili — 

jScro. Don't say any thing, please. Come and see me. 
Will you come and see me ? 

3Ir. B. I will — with great pleasure. [JtJxlt, r.] 

A^icro. Thank'er, I am much obliged to you. I thank 
you fifty times. Bless you ! 

J^nter Bob Cratchit, r., with Tiyiy Tim on his shohider, 

Sero. Halloo, Bob Cratchit ! What To yv)u inc^an by 
coming here ? 

Bob. I am verj' sorry, sir; I was not coming, I wj)s 
only passing, sir, on my way to hear the Christnia-; carols. 

iScro. What right have you to be passing here to re- 
mind me that it is Christmas? 

Bob. It's only once a year, sir ; it &hall not be re- 
peated. 

iScro. Now, I'll tell you what, my fiiend, I am not go 
ing to stand this any longer ; and therefore I give you 
permission to pass my house fifty times a day, if you 
want to. I give you a week's vacation, without any de 
duction for lost time. I am about to raise your salary. 
( Giving him a dig in the u'alstcoat ; Bob staggers back, 
and Scrooge follows him up.) A Merry Christmas, Bob ! 
[jSla2)2^ing him on the back.) A Merrier Christmas, Bob, 



SCENE III.] OLD Se'IlOOaE. 4'* 

my good follow, tli :i) I have ever given you for many a 
year! I'll raise your salary, aiid endeavor to assist 3''our 
struggling family, and III he Tin y^ Tim's Godlather. 
Come along, my good fello^v. we'll go to church together, 
and discuss your affairs on the way, Tii.y Tim, what do 
you say to that 't 

Tinii Tlui. I say God bh-ss us, every one. 

Boh. I would like to sa .' S(nnelhing, sir, but you have 
deprived me of the power of speech. 

iScro. Come on, then, we'll talk it ov(3r as we o'o. 
^ome, Tiny Tim, and go with your Godfather. {Ta.Me.> 
Tim on his s/toidder. E.veunt, l.) 

SCENE III. — Dramhuj Ilooin, In Fred Merri/'ii house. 
Fi'iiL 3Irs. Fred and Mrs. Kemper dlscorvred seal- 
ed at table, conrers/nf/^ 

Fred. Is it possible ! You surprise riie. I never had 
the least idea that vou had ever nuet Uncle Scrooge, much 
less that he was an old admirer of yours. 

Mrs. M. Oh I do tell us all about it, dear mother ; I'm 
dying to hear it. 

Mrs. K . Well, you must know, my dear children, tlmt 
Fanny Scrooge- our nmther, Ki'ed-was m *■ earliest friend 
and schoolm.kte. and through her I became ac(juaintt'd 
with her brother — your uncle ; at thattime a noble s[)irited 
1)0/, fresh from his studies. Our friendship soo.i ripiMied 
into love, and a bctrotiial. I cannot describe to you how 
Jujpp7 and light he rted [ was, and how true and devoted 
your uncle continued. Our mariiage w s deferred until 
such time as he should bi' in a position to provide us a 
suitable houic. After he left Mr. Fezziwigs, where he had 
served his time, he entered the service of Jac h Marley, 
-and subsequenilj' became his partner. It was at this time 
I observed a change in him; he was not less ardent than 
before, but I soon discovered that avarice had become, 
the guiding- [Kission (d' his nature, and that our love 
was subseivient to its iidiuinc(;. Foreseeing that only 
miser3' could ensue from our union, I released him from 
the engagement And now after the lapse of many ;^ ears, 
with the exception of the day, five 3cars ago, wIkmi he 
attended 3'our father's funeral, we iiave not met or ex.- 
€hanged a word with each other. 

Mrs M. Wwi, mother, did vou really love him? 



44 ni.D scKooGK. [act v. 

Mrs. K. I did, niv dear — previous to tlie discovery 
of the cbaiige in liini 

Ml 8. M. And did von not sacritice Tour love in re- 
leasing him ''. 

Mrs. K. I merely sacrificed mv desires to common 
sense. Love, to be lasting, must be mutual, t nd if it is 
not paramount to all other passions, it ends in misery or 
hate. Hence, being- guided br judgment, 1 suoii found 
b}^ experience that true love can again exist if worthily 
bestowed. 

Fred AYell, dear mother, I agree with j^our estimate 
of Un(;le Scrooge This is the sixth Christmas Day of 
our married life, and each Christmas Eve 1 have invited 
him to come rnd dine with us, but he has nover j'et hon- 
ored us with his presence, and I suppose he never will. 

Scro. {Gently openiiuj the door and puttUuj in his 
head) Fred! may 1 come in 'f (All start and rise, and 
Fred rushes toirard the door tcith both hern ds extended.^ 

Fred. Why, I less my snul ! who's that ? 

l^ero. It's I, your Uncle Scrooge. I have accepted 
your invitation. Will you let me in ? 

Fred. Let you in ! [Shaking him heartily by both 
hands.) Dear heart alive I Whvnot? Welcome! wel- 
come! My wife, your niece — Yes, j'ou may. {^Scrooge 
kisses her. ) Our mother. 

Scro. Bellel Heavens! What shall I do? {AsieJe.) 

3Irs. F. I fear that our meeting- will be painful. I 
beg your permission, my son, to retire. 

Freel. No, no, no. This is Christmas Day. Everybody 
can be happy on this day, that desires to be, and I know 
that vour meeting can be made a pleasant and agreeable 
one if you both so will it. " Pea e on earth and good 
will to man," is the days golden maxim 

Scro. Although somewhat embarrassed, I concur most 
heartilv in the wise and good-natured counsel of my dear 
nephew. Never befoie have I experienced the joys com- 
mon to this day, and never hereafter, while I am permitted 
to live, shall I miss them. In the past twentv-four hours 
I have undergone a complete revolution of ideas and de- 
sires, and have awakened unto a new life. Instead of a 
sordid, avaricious old man, J trust you will find a cheer- 
ful, liberal Christian, ever ready to extend to his fellow 
creatures a Merry Christmis, and a Happy New Year. 

Fred, Why ! uncle, I wonder //6i< dont go into Pai'lia- 



SCENE III.] OLD SCROOGE. 45 

merit. I could dance for joy. {^Knihr<iclru) him.) You 
dear old man ! You shall ever find a hearty welcome 
here. 

3[rs. M. I join with my husband in his earnest con- 
gratulations. 

Mrs. K. I confess, Mr. Scroog-e, that I am rejoiced to 
find your nephew's assertions so quickly verified, and that 
an opportunity is offered to renew an acquaintance which 
I hope will end in uninterrupted friends.iip. {They shake 
hands. ) 

Fred. Ah, here comes Topper and the girls. 

Enter Ihpper and Julia Kemper. Snapper and SaraJi 

Kemper . 

Fred. Come, girls, hug and kiss your Uncle Scrooi,e, 
he has come to make merry with us. ( Takes the girls to 
iScroof/e, and endeavors to make them, Jiuq, doinr/ most 
of the hug ging himself .) Hug him hard! Tliis^'s Topper, 
and this is Suapper, they are both sweet on the girls. 
All laugh.) 

Julia and Sai'ah. Oh, you bad man. 

Fred. Come, let us lose no time. What do 3-ou say to 
a game ? Shall it be blind man's buff'^ 

All. Agreed. 

Fred. Come, Uncle Scrooge, the oldest, first. 

iScro. Do with me as you please; it is Christmas 
Day. 

{TJiey play a. liuely game, falling ocef chairs, etc. 
Scrooge catches each lady, and guesses torong, until he 
gets Mrs. Merry, loho, in turn., catches Topper., -mho pulls 
the bandage dovm, and goes for Julia., and pretends that 
he tells who she is by the roay the hair is fixed, etc. 
Scrooge and 3Irs. Kemper retire up stage, and converse.) 

Jidia. Ah, that's not fair, you peeped. I won't play 
any more. ( Goe?, up stage with Topjter. ) 

Fred Well, I could have guessed that catch, and it's 
nothing more than fair that he should peep before making 
it. It seems, my dear, that our company have divided 
into couples. Ought we not demand an explanition ? 

Mrs. M. As master of the house, it is your duty^ 

Fred. Mr. Thomas Topper and others, we have long 
suspected you of some horrible design against the peace 

L 



46 



01. D SCROOGE. [act V. 



and happiness of this family. What say you to the 

eliaige '( 

Julia. On behalf of our clients, we plead gudty. 

Sarah. And urge extenuating circumstances. 

Fred. Then nothing more remains, but for the Court 
to pronounce sentence, which is, that you be placed under 
the bends of matrimony, at such time and place as may 
suit your convenience. But, Madam Belle Kemper and 
Ebenezer Scrooge, what have you to say in your defense. 

Mrs. K. Only this, that Christmas works wonders.^ 

iScro. In other words, Mrs. Kemper finds that Christ- 
mas has restored me to a primitive condition, and leaves 
it to time to test the merits of the happy change. {To 
amlience.) We all have cause to bless Christmas, and 
it shall always be my delight to wish you A Merry Christ- 
mas, and A Happy New Year, with Tiny Tim's addition 
of "God bless us every one." 



CURTAIN. 



LiBRftRV OF CONGRESS 




014 152 461 5 



